[Chris R]

Hi,
it would seem that many truckmount users will still set up a portable machine to clean upholstery.

Why is this?

Is it because of the fuel cost involved (3 hrs to clean a suite = £8 fuel?)

Is a truckmounts vac to powerful for a lot of delicate upholstery?

Is the water heat that is generated by a truckmount to "unstable" for upholstery cleaning. Sudden bursts of red hot water could well be dangerous on a lot of fabrics.

thanks

Chris

[Karl Wildey]

Never got on with upholstery cleaning with a TM. My upholstrery tool also has a small hole in the pipe (supposed to be there), to reduce the water pressure, so most of your water goes back into the waste tank, so its a waste of hot water and petrol.
My TM is an entry level type, so maybe the top end machine are better for upholstery, but not mine.

[Glynn]

We clean upholstery daily with TM, using a multitude of different tools. "SOME" tools have a bypass valve to keep the temp up, and these are the ones that waste/dump clean water, but only when the valves open.
The RriMaster tool for example is really only suited to a TM mainly due to the large consumption of water involved. We get "very fast " dry times using a TM on upholstery.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I use a 5" CFR tool, it does use more water but the end result is fantastic, it is quicker to clean with and alot lot dryer all this with my Boxxer which is a medium spec TM not like Glynn's wee beasty!

Shaun

[tony harrison]

 Hi                                                                                                 we been cleaning upholstery using a truckmount for the past 15 years and would never think of using portable machines again in normal circumstances.

The tooling that we use is a prochem hand tool and a drymaster, both give excelent results but my preference is for the drymaster,the water flow can be set to whatever rate you want, ( yes it does use more water but the temperature is always stable).

We only have the engine running approx half speed and the drying times are down to a minimum.

I would be interested to know what other truckmounters use for upholstery tools.

Regards Tony

[dave washbrook]

hi all
 i also use a t/m on upholstery with no problems only fantastic results with fast drying times. i use a cfr 3" hand tool and also the dri-master.
why bother setting up a porty if you have a t/m? much quicker and eaiser

dave

[Derek_Walker]

Hi

I use a truckmount & portable. In my opinion is there is no major advantage in the cleaning ability between the two when it comes to cleaning upholstery. It is more down to the hand tools, detergents, & the ability of the technician. The choice of either truckmount or portable is decided on factors such as location,
if we are cleaning carpets & upholstery at the same time, or just upholstery on its own.

[Dave Parry]

I use my Boxxer to clean upholstry, either with a drimaster or a CFR combi tool (Prefered).  Use microsplitters so spray and agitate on sofa frame, use t/m to rinse. turn off and spray cushions, turn on and rinse. etc. so machine not running all the time. This way also use less water and fuel.

[Dynafoam]

Hi Dave,

I realise that you are a very experienced cleaner and find that I am nearly always in complete agreement with your posts.

We all work in a manner in which we feel most comfortable, and often there are many right ways in going about the job. You mentioned that you clean the carcase of a suite and then the cushions - I do things the other way about.

I use the carcase as a workbench whilst cleaning the cushions of one piece, placing each cushion before a blower, then clean that carcase, by which time these cushions are nearly dry. They are placed in front of the just-cleaned carcase and the blower directed over the unit.

I then move on to the next unit, which is cleaned in the same order. By the time the last piece is cleaned that will be the only one still damp an the blower will dry that whilst I load the van.

I do it in this manner because the single-layer cover of much of the carcase will dry much quicker than the cushions and it is the cushions that are first to receive body contact when the suite is brought back into use.

I find that this approach allows me to have most suites completely ready for use before I drive away, but in the worst case there will be one unit only that requires more drying time, and there is normally one piece of a suite that is seldom used - this is the one I clean last.

I turn off the machine by remote control, which is easier to arrange with electrically powered equipment, but try reversing the order of your normal practise, and you should find the the suite dries quicker.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Same here John, I have the cushions which usually take the longest to dry dry before I go and by the time I have cleaned favourite chair I move 1 of the turbos on to that and so on. Good drying times aid good prices.

Shaun

[Dave Parry]

Cheers John, I'll give it a whirl that way round next time.
Would love to have a remote Start/Stop on my t/m would save alot of shoe leather.

[adl]

John i to normally clean the carcass first, however reading your post i can see the logic in doing it your way, i shall therefore change my method thanks for the post, really usefull.

regards Dave Adl

[Dynafoam]

Dave P,

On my TM I had a radio control on the throttle. Not as good as a stop/start but the next best thing.

[*paul_moss]

Guys I have a remote control on my portable .

Its a dead long stick that i wave out of the window to switch the machine on and off.

Paul